For policy makers
Go Gentle has campaigned for voluntary assisted dying laws in every Australian state. We have briefings and resources on most topics related to the end of life, drawn from national and global evidence and expertise. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, please email [email protected]
On this page
The importance of evidence-based policy making
Our 2023 policy priorities
- Pass voluntary assisted dying laws in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory
- Clarify Commonwealth law so telehealth can be used for VAD practice
- Minimise out-of-pocket costs for people seeking VAD and ensure VAD practitioners are remunerated for their work
- Secure consistency and improvements for VAD laws nationwide
Read more about our policy priorities here.
The law in your state
Every Australian state has now legalised voluntary assisted dying. Although all laws follow the broad 'Australian model' of VAD, there are some key differences in eligibility criteria and processes between each state.
Upcoming state reviews
Each state's VAD law has a review process scheduled in the legislation. The exact structure of these reviews is not defined, but we expect they will invite submissions from the general public, health professionals and interested stakeholders. Most laws state that the reviews must be completed within a year.
| Victoria | Expected from June 2023 |
| Western Australia | Expected from July 2023 |
| Tasmania | Expected from March 2024 |
| New South Wales | Expected from November 2025 |
| Queensland | Expected from January 2026 |
| South Australia | Expected from January 2027 |
Go Gentle briefings
- Impact of the Criminal Code (Cth) on VAD practice - April 2023
- VAD in Action: What we've learnt from Victoria and Western Australia - July 2022
- Guide to Debate on Restoring Territory Rights - July 2022
- Suicide by people with terminal illness in NSW - March 2022
- Guide to the Debate in NSW - October 2021
Go Gentle submissions
- Submission to the UK Parliament's Inquiry into Assisted Dying - January 2023
- Go Gentle's response to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's National Consensus Statement - January 2023
- Go Gentle's 2023-24 Pre-Budget submission - January 2023
- Submission to NSW Parliament’s Inquiry into the VAD Bill 2021 - November 2021
- Submission to Queensland Parliament’s Health and Environment Committee responding to proposed VAD legislation - July 2021
- Submission to University of Tasmania’s VAD Review Panel - January 2021
- Submission to Queensland Law Reform Commission consultation paper on VAD - November 2020
- Submission to South Australia’s Inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying - August 2019
- Submission to Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety - May 2019
- Submission to Queensland’s Inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying - April 2019
- Submission to ACT’s Inquiry into End-of-Life Choices - March 2018
- Submission to WA’s Inquiry into End of Life Choices - October 2017
- Response to discussion paper on Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill - April 2017
Useful links
- Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board Reports
- Western Australia Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board Reports
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QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research
Professors Ben White and Lindy Willmott’s team lead on academic research into VAD in Australia. -
ELDAC: End of Life Direction for Aged Care - End of Life Law
ELDAC’s collection of End of Life Law resources are an excellent guide to VAD for aged care providers.
The importance of evidence-based policy making
In the video below, Queensland University of Technology Professor Ben White explains why evidence-based policy making is so important.
